Bad Blood

Soft kisses teased her flesh. “Until the ball, then.”

She could have sworn she felt him smile against her skin.

Doc stomped the brakes and brought the car to a stop behind Creek’s motorcycle. Keeping up with the KM had been an effort. Mal’s beater sedan wasn’t exactly as limber as the bike, and dodging some of the things currently roaming Paradise City’s streets was no small feat.

Creek waited for them on the sidewalk as they got out, but the second the first door opened, he was off down the street toward the cop cars they’d followed here. The cops jumped out, guns drawn as Doc, Mortalis, and Fi, still in her ghost form, hustled to catch up to Creek. “A woman called in, said she heard the sounds of a struggle out her window, looked out and saw a blond girl with gold marks on her being dragged into this alley.”

He cocked his crossbow. “You three stay here, let me suss it out.”

“You sure you don’t want more help than those two cops?” Doc asked.

“They’ve been briefed. One cop is varcolai.”

Doc nodded and took a better look at the cop, recognizing him as a member of the pride. “Shout if you need us.”

Creek ducked into the alley. Doc inhaled, testing the air for scents. Blood. In spades. And the faint hint of vampire. But between the two was the familiar musky scent of feline shifter. Had to be the cop. Suddenly, a deep guttural snarl broke through the other sounds of the city.

“Doc.” Urgency laced Creek’s voice like a poison. “Now.”

With Fi at his side, Doc spun around the corner, unprepared for the scene before him. A large feline varcolai in half-form crouched over the torn body of one of Dominic’s comarré. If she wasn’t dead, she would be in another heartbeat or two. Blood dripped from his clawed fingers and pooled beneath the girl like a morbid blanket, unfurling slowly toward the street. The varcolai stood, stepping back carefully to avoid the puddle.

The cops had their guns raised, but they were out of their league. “Guns aren’t going to do much good,” Doc said.

“Copy that. Besides, we need to take him in alive,” Creek answered. His crossbow stayed up on his shoulder. “You know this cat?”

“Maybe. Definitely leopard, but it’s a little dark to really make out—”

One of the cops flipped on a handheld spotlight, bringing the killer into clear view. The varcolai cop muttered a curse.

Doc swore, too. “What the hell?” He stepped forward, a little past Creek and enough to block the KM’s shot. “Sinjin?”

The man snarled again, showing a small chip in his left fang and confirming Doc’s identification. How could he forget the varcolai who’d cast him out of the pride?

Sinjin shook his head as if telling Doc not to say another word. Doc snorted in derision and took another step forward. “You think I’m going to stand by and let you murder these girls? Like hell.”

With a quick shake, Sinjin shed all signs of his leopard half and took on his full human form. “Siding with the mortals, Maddoc?” He shook his head. “Don’t you see what’s happening? The vampires grow stronger every day. We have to seize whatever opportunity we can, and tonight we’re seizing a big one.”

“There’s no we, Sinjin. You kicked me out of the pride years ago, remember?” Heat coursed through Doc’s bones. “And I don’t consider killing humans an opportunity.”

“I didn’t kill this girl. I found her here. The victim of a vampire.”

“Her blood is on your hands, and I bet when the police search you, they’ll find the container of vampire ashes you’ve been planting beneath their nails.”

Sinjin’s mouth bent in a cruel sneer. “You’re weak. You always have been.” His eyes reflected the cop’s light with a green-gold glow Doc knew must be shining in his eyes, too. The heat in his body got more intense. “That’s why I’m the pride leader.”

“I never wanted that job, no matter how much you thought I did. Time to give yourself up. This game is over.” And time for Doc to calm down.

Hands fisted at his side, Sinjin stretched his neck and growled the low, threatening call that meant one thing. Challenge.

This wasn’t the time or place to answer that call. Not with the fire in his system just begging for a way out. Doc turned and walked back toward Creek. “Cops have any tranquilizer darts? That’s what I’d use—”

Creek’s mouth opened but Fi’s yell hit Doc’s ears first. “Behind you,” she wailed.

Doc twisted in time to catch Sinjin’s charge full in the chest. It took him to the pavement hard enough to knock the breath out of him and dent the asphalt. He was vaguely aware of Fi telling Creek to shoot and Creek saying he couldn’t get a clean shot.

Sinjin raised his hand, claws out. Doc rolled as the hand came down, throwing Sinjin off. Doc flipped to his feet and caught Sinjin as he did the same, then shoved him back into the alley wall. The sounds of bones and bricks cracking filled the air.

“I’m going to kill you like I should have done instead of kicking you out,” Sinjin snarled.

Doc ducked a punch, then threw one of his own, planting his fist in Sinjin’s gut. “I doubt that.”

Sinjin backhanded him. Doc tasted blood, staggered a step. Sinjin came after him, latching on and taking him to the ground again. “When I’m done with you,” Sinjin whispered, “I’m going to end that freak girlfriend of yours, too.”